JP2549571B2 - Manufacturing method of fuel absorber - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fuel absorber used for a fuel evaporation preventing device.

[Prior art]

When fuel is supplied to the fuel tank of an automobile by a refueling gun, a relatively large amount of fuel evaporates. In addition, the fuel inside the fuel tank and the vaporizer float chamber is partially vaporized both when the vehicle is running and when the vehicle is stopped.

Therefore, in order to prevent these evaporated fuels from leaking into the atmosphere, a canister (a fuel evaporation preventing device) filled with a fuel absorber is connected to these tanks and the like. This fuel absorber is for capturing the evaporated fuel.
In addition, in order to capture fuel vapor from not only automobiles but also fuel storage tanks and the like, and leaked fuel liquid, a fuel evaporation prevention device similarly filled with a fuel absorber is used.

Activated carbon is conventionally used as the fuel absorber. The fuel adsorbed on the activated carbon is released from the activated carbon at the time of purge (separation). Therefore, activated carbon is used repeatedly by adsorbing and desorbing fuel (described later in Section 3).
See figure).

[Problems to be solved]

However, in a canister using the above activated carbon,
Often, the fuel vapor cannot be captured and the fuel vapor is released to the atmosphere.

Investigation of the cause revealed that activated carbon significantly reduced its ability to trap gasoline when it came into contact with liquid gasoline. Furthermore, it was found that the reason why the activated carbon came into contact with the liquid gasoline was that the liquid gasoline condensed on the pipe connected to the canister and the upper wall of the canister touched the activated carbon.

The above-described condensation of gasoline vapor occurs in the surrounding piping and the space above the canister when the outside air temperature is particularly high and the vapor pressure of gasoline in the fuel tank or the carburetor is extremely high.

Another cause of the decrease in the vapor-capturing capacity (working capacity) of activated carbon is that, among the evaporated fuel molecules adsorbed on activated carbon, small molecules with 4 or 5 or less carbon atoms are easily removed during the canister purging process. On the contrary, it is difficult for molecules larger than that to disengage. Also, as a result, the ability to capture steam decreases as the operating time of the canister increases.

It has also been proposed to use an organic polymer such as polypropylene, styrene-butadiene copolymer or the like as a fuel absorber instead of activated carbon (JP-A-1-67222, JP-A-1-67222).
−227861). However, the fuel absorbing capability of the fuel absorber decreases during the repetition of a fuel absorption / desorption cycle (absorption / desorption cycle).

The cause is considered as follows. Primary particle strength, 1
Since the bonding force between the secondary particles (the strength of the secondary particles) is weak, swelling upon absorption and contraction upon detachment are repeated, and further, primary particles are destroyed due to vibration or the like, and secondary particles are collapsed. Such fine particles are liable to be scattered and cause the imbalance of the absorbent, so that the absorbing ability is reduced. Further, when the particles are miniaturized, the porosity is reduced, so that clogging is likely to occur at the time of swelling, and the absorption capacity is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a method for manufacturing a fuel absorber having excellent durability against the above-mentioned absorption / desorption cycle and excellent fuel vapor trapping ability.

[Means for solving problems]

In the present invention, an organic polymer compound having a fuel trapping function is dissolved in a solvent, and a thermoplastic resin powder for a binder is added to and mixed with the solution, and then in the presence of a cross-linking agent for the reaction of the organic polymer compound. The reaction is performed, and after the reaction is completed, a polymer gel containing the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin powder is collected, and then granulated, and the obtained intermediate granules are heated to a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin powders are fused to each other. And a method for manufacturing a fuel absorber.

In the present invention, the organic polymer compound having a fuel-capturing function refers to an organic polymer compound having a function of capturing evaporated fuel (including a leaked fuel liquid) and capable of crosslinking at least to the extent that a gel is generated. Say. In addition, the trapping function means a property of being dissolved in or swelling with fuel.

In addition, the above-mentioned reaction refers to any chemical reaction including a crosslinking reaction and / or a polymerization reaction of the organic polymer compound. In addition, these reactions are carried out by a conventional polymerization method, for example,
Any method such as suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization and solution polymerization may be adopted. As will be described later, polymer gel fine particles are obtained in the case of suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization, while polymer gel particles are obtained in the case of solution polymerization.

Examples of the organic polymer compound having the above properties include polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polyisobutylene, polystyrene, polynorbornene, polysiloxane, ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, ethylene-propylene. A system-based copolymer, an isobutylene-isoprene-based copolymer, a butadiene-acrylonitrile-based copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl acetate-based copolymer, an acrylic-based polymer, a polyepichlorohydrin, a styrene-isoprene-based copolymer are used.

In addition, as a solvent used when reacting these organic polymer compounds, there are toluene, benzene, dimethylbenzene, trimethylbenzene, cyclohexane, pentane, hexane, heptane, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene and the like.

The ratio of the organic polymer compound to the solvent is 2 to 50% (weight ratio, hereinafter the same), and the solvent is 50 to 98%.
% Is preferable.

Further, as the thermoplastic resin powder for the binder, there are crystalline resins such as PP, PE, PBT, PET, POM and nylon. The thermoplastic resin powder is used as a bonding agent for fusing the intermediate particles to each other as described later, and does not participate in the reaction of the above organic polymer compound, or at least has a heat fusing property. Only to the extent that
It does not crosslink. Further, the thermoplastic resin powder is added to the solvent together with the organic polymer compound, but the thermoplastic resin powder used is not completely dissolved in the solvent.

Further, the thermoplastic resin powder is added in an amount of 20 to 70% by weight with respect to the organic polymer compound. If it is less than 20%, the effect as a binder is small, and if it exceeds 70%, the amount of the thermoplastic resin powder becomes too much, which may reduce the fuel absorber capacity. The particle size of the thermoplastic resin powder is preferably 0.01 to 2000 μm.

Next, as crosslinking agents, diacyl peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide and lauroyl peroxide, hydroperoxides such as 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2-hydroperoxide, dicumyl peroxide Dialkyl peroxides such as oxides, peroxyketals such as 1,1-di-t-butyl peroxy-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, and alkyl peresters such as t-butyl peroxy-neodecanoate , Bis (4-t-butylcyclohexyl)
Percarbonates such as peroxy dicarbonate,
There are peroxide-based crosslinking agents such as ketone peroxides such as methyl-ethyl-ketone peroxide.

Further, generally used crosslinking agents such as sulfur, sulfur compounds, amine compounds, epoxy compounds and carboxy compounds can also be used. Further, it is preferable to use a cross-linking agent that can cross-link the organic polymer compound having a fuel trapping function and does not cross-link the thermoplastic resin for the binder.

If the reaction is insufficient, a crosslinking aid is added.

As such a crosslinking aid, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, ethylene dimethacrylate, 1,3-butylene.
Dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 2-2, -bis (4-methacryloxy diethoxyphenyl) propane, aluminum methacrylate, calcium dimethacrylate, triallyl isocyanurate, diallyl phthalate, divinyl benzene, P- Examples include quinone dioxime, 1,2-polybutadiene and sulfur. On the other hand, for the crosslinking agents other than the peroxide-based crosslinking agents, generally used crosslinking assistants can be used.

The cross-linking agent is 1-20% based on the organic polymer compound.
The crosslinking aid is also added in an amount of 0 to 20%.

It is preferable that the organic polymer compound solution is subjected to a deoxygenation treatment prior to performing the above reaction. As such a deoxidation treatment method, there is a method of bubbling nitrogen (N ₂ ) gas into the organic polymer compound solution. There is also a method in which the container containing the solution is evacuated and then the operation of filling with N ₂ gas is repeated. As a result, dissolved oxygen is released from the reaction solution.

Next, in the case of suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization, the reaction is carried out using a solution containing a dispersant as follows.

That is, a solution containing an organic polymer compound and a cross-linking agent is added to a dispersant-containing solution with stirring to form a dispersion liquid. Then, heating and stirring are continued until the crosslinking agent is almost completely decomposed to react.

As the dispersant, polyvinyl alcohol (PV
A), gelatin, gum tragacanth, gum arabic, starch, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polyacrylate, alkali soap, organic amine soap, and synthetic surfactants such as sulfates of higher alcohols and nonionic surfactants of tweens, etc., There are proteins, vegetable gums, alginates, saponins, etc.

Further, it is preferable that the dispersant-containing solution is also deoxidized in the same manner as above. In addition, water is usually used as a solvent for the solution. The concentration of the dispersant in the solution is about 1 to 5%.

After the completion of the reaction, when cooled, the polymer obtained by the reaction and the solution are separated vertically. Therefore, a creamy paste is obtained by collecting the upper polymer phase. This is a polymer gel fine particle. The polymer gel fine particles contain a fine particle polymer having a particle size of 10 to 100 μm, a thermoplastic resin powder for a binder adhered and mixed with the polymer, a solvent and a dispersant.

Next, the polymer gel fine particles containing the thermoplastic resin powder are granulated by a granulator such as a high speed mixer or a spray dryer to obtain an intermediate granule having a particle diameter of about 1 to 5 mm. The intermediate granules are obtained by
It is in a state of being lightly bonded to each other by the above-mentioned adhering and mixing thermoplastic resin powder (see FIG. 1).

Next, the intermediate granular material has a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin powders are fused to each other (for example, 140 to 150 in the case of PE).
(° C). As a result, the thermoplastic resin powders mixed in the fine particulate polymer are fused to each other, and the intermediate particulate matter becomes a high-strength fuel absorber (see FIG. 1).

That is, since the thermoplastic resin takes a bonding form of heat fusion, the bonding force is stronger than that in the bonding form of simply attaching with an adhesive binder. Further, since it is mixed with the finely divided polymer as a powder which is hard to melt and then fused by heating, it is evenly distributed on the surface of the finely divided polymer to perform a binding action, and the fuel absorber is supported with equal binding force in each part thereof. To be done. Therefore, it is less likely to break from a portion having a specific weak bonding force. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel absorber has a porous joint structure, so that the fuel absorption rate becomes high.

On the other hand, in the case of solution polymerization, the reaction is carried out after adding a crosslinking agent to the organic polymer compound solution. In this case, no dispersant is used. Then, after the reaction is completed, a polymer gel body in which the thermoplastic resin powder is mixed is obtained. This product is granulated in the same manner as above to form an intermediate granular product, which is heated to the fusion temperature and fused.

Further, in the above method, the thermoplastic resin powder is not added from the beginning, but the thermoplastic resin powder is added and mixed to the polymer gel fine particles collected after the reaction, and then the above granulation,
There is also a method of heating. In this case, the reaction of the organic polymer compound is carried out by suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization.

That is, in this method, an organic polymer compound having a fuel trapping function is dissolved in a solvent, and then the solution is added to a separately prepared dispersant-containing solution with stirring to prepare a cross-linking agent for the reaction of the organic polymer compound. The reaction is performed in the presence of the polymer gel, and after the reaction is completed, the polymer gel microparticles are collected, and then the thermoplastic resin powder is added to and mixed with the polymer gel microparticles, followed by granulation
In the method for producing a fuel absorber, the obtained intermediate particles are heated to a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin powders are fused to each other.

In addition, in the above two methods, a polymer gel to which a thermoplastic resin powder is attached (including the polymer gel fine particles and polymer gel bodies) is applied to a carrier to obtain a fuel absorber with a carrier. Can also be manufactured.

That is, a polymer gel fine particle containing the thermoplastic resin powder (hereinafter, the same applies to the polymer gel body) is applied to the surface of the carrier and then dried. As a result, a large number of the fine-grained polymers are lightly attached by the thermoplastic resin powder, and an intermediate in which these are attached to the carrier surface is obtained. Then, thereafter, these are heated to a temperature higher than the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic resin powder. As a result, a fuel absorber with a carrier is obtained in which the finely divided polymer is fused on the carrier by the thermoplastic resin.

Examples of the carrier include granules, plates, cloths, nets, and yarns. The material of the carrier includes plastic, ceramics, and metal. Further, as a method for applying the polymer gel fine particles to the carrier, there is a dipping method in which the carrier is immersed in the polymer gel fine particles and pulled up. Further, there is a method of spraying onto the carrier with a spray gun or the like without diluting or diluting the above-mentioned creamy polymer gel fine particles containing the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin powder in water or a solvent. Further, there is a roll coater method in which the polymer gel fine particles are attached to a roll and applied to a carrier.

Further, the particulate fuel absorber obtained as described above is
This can be further formed into a desired shape, for example, a honeycomb shape, a plate shape, a film shape, or the like. However, when the thickness becomes large, only the surface swells, absorption does not proceed to the inside, and the absorption capacity may decrease. Therefore, the diameter or thickness of the fuel absorber is preferably set to 5 mm or less.

The shape of the fuel absorber with a carrier is basically the same as the shape of the carrier, but may be a plate shape, a honeycomb shape, or the like as described above. The thickness, diameter and the like are the same as above.

Further, the fuel absorber according to the present invention swells due to trapping (absorption) of the evaporated fuel, but is insoluble in the fuel. Therefore, once the trapped fuel is purged (removed), it can be regenerated and its use can be repeated.

The fuel absorber of the present invention can be used not only for a canister for an automobile but also for various fuel evaporation preventing devices such as a fuel tank for a boiler.

[Action and effect]

In the present invention, since the fuel absorber obtained by the above manufacturing method is based on the organic polymer compound, the fuel absorber has a high trapping ability for the evaporated fuel. This high trapping ability is based on the force of the organic polymer compound to absorb fuel such as gasoline and swell. This is because the organic polymer compound and the evaporated fuel have a large affinity.

Further, in the fuel absorber, fine-grained polymers are bonded to each other by the thermoplastic resin powder,
The overall strength is improved. Therefore, it is excellent in durability against the above-mentioned absorption and desorption cycles of fuel capture and release.

Further, since the powder of the thermoplastic resin is used as the binder, the thermoplastic resin can be uniformly adhered to the surface of the fine particulate polymer, and the addition of the binder is easy.

In addition, since the organic polymer compounds are chemically bonded to each other by a reaction, the obtained fuel absorber is
It has a three-dimensional structure. Therefore, the overall flexibility is high and the fuel capture capacity is also high.

Further, the carrier-attached fuel absorber has a high strength as a whole because the carrier serves as a skeleton. Further, since the fine granular polymer layer is provided on the surface of the carrier, the surface area relative to the volume of the fine granular polymer is increased. The percentage is large. Therefore, the fuel absorption capacity per unit weight of the finely divided polymer is high.

Note that the fuel absorber that swelled by absorbing the evaporated fuel releases the fuel that was captured in the process of purging the inside of the fuel evaporation prevention device, and the evaporated fuel absorbing capacity is restored, so that it can be used continuously. it can.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method of manufacturing a fuel absorber that is excellent in durability against a fuel absorption / desorption cycle and excellent in the ability to trap evaporated fuel.

〔Example〕

First Embodiment A method of manufacturing a fuel absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as an organic polymer compound having a fuel trapping function, 14 g of ethylene-propylene-ethylidene norbornene polymer (Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd. EP33. Ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer) is dissolved in toluene (solution amount: 140 g). .

Furthermore, as the thermoplastic resin powder for the binder, 9.3 g of PE resin and the above solution were added to and mixed with the solution (solution amount 149.3 g). The particle size of the thermoplastic resin powder is
It was about 30 μm.

To this solution, 20 parts of benzoyl peroxide as a cross-linking agent was added and dissolved in 100 parts (parts by weight, hereinafter the same) of the polymer in terms of a pure product (100%). Furthermore,
Divinylbenzene as a crosslinking aid was added to the polymer 10
20 parts was added to 0 parts and dissolved. N ₂ gas was bubbled through the polymer solution prepared in this manner to perform a deoxygenation treatment for removing dissolved oxygen in the solution.

On the other hand, a 1% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (polymerization degree 500, saponification degree 86.5 to 89 mol%) as a dispersant is prepared in a pressure resistant container (solution amount 800 g). And
The dispersion stirrer was fixed on the upper part of the pressure resistant container, and the container was sealed. Next, the inside of the pressure resistant vessel was evacuated, and the operation of filling with N ₂ gas was performed three times to perform deoxidation treatment for removing dissolved oxygen in the PVA aqueous solution.

After that, while pouring the above-mentioned deoxidized polymer solution into the PVA aqueous solution in the pressure vessel, the dispersion was stirred at a high speed to form a dispersion. After the inflow of the polymer solution is completed, the inside of the pressure vessel is deoxygenated in the same manner as described above.
Stirring was continued for 15 minutes.

Next, the dispersion stirrer was replaced with a simple propeller stirrer, and the reaction liquid in the pressure resistant vessel was stirred at 400 to 500 rpm while being heated to 92 ° C. After reaching 92 ° C., the stirring was continued for another 6 hours, and then a 20% toluene solution of an antioxidant (polymerization inhibitor) was added to the reaction solution to stop the reaction.

After completion of the reaction, the pressure vessel was cooled with ice water and left at room temperature for 3 hours. This separates the creamy polymer gel fine particles in the upper layer and the aqueous solution in the lower layer. Then, the upper layer polymer fine particles are collected. As a result, polymer gel microparticles composed of the microparticulate polymer produced by the reaction of the above organic macromolecular compound and the thermoplastic resin powder adhering to the surface thereof were obtained. Then, this was put into a high speed mixer little by little and granulated. As a result, an intermediate granular material having a diameter of 1 to 3 mm was obtained.

Further, the intermediate granules are mixed with P
The mast-side rail was heated for 10 minutes above the temperature (150 ° C) at which the E resin was fused. Thus, a granular fuel absorber according to the present invention was obtained. This fuel absorber is designated as Sample No. 1.

The fuel absorber produced in this manner exists as shown in a model in FIG. 1 so as to adhere and mix with the fine particulate polymer 50 produced by the crosslinking reaction of the organic polymer compound. It is composed of a thermoplastic resin powder layer 52. Then, the thermoplastic resin powder layer 52 is fused and becomes a binder to bond the fine granular polymers 50 to form the fuel absorber 5.

Second Example In the first example, the thermoplastic resin powder was not added from the beginning, and the thermoplastic resin powder was added and mixed to the fresh cream-like polymer gel fine particles collected after the reaction. The addition ratio of the thermoplastic resin powder to the organic polymer compound was the same as in the first example.

Next, granulation and heating to the fusion temperature were performed to obtain a granular fuel absorber according to the present invention. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The fuel absorber thus obtained was similar to that shown in FIG. This fuel absorber is referred to as Sample 2.

Third Example Fresh cream-like polymer gel fine particles containing a thermoplastic resin powder produced in the first example were collected,
This was applied to the surface of the carrier.

As the carrier, a nylon material with a diameter of about 0.5 mm was used. Further, the above coating was performed by a dipping method. After that, the carrier coated with the polymer gel fine particles was heated to 150 ° C., which is higher than the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic resin powder.

As a result, a granular fuel absorber with a carrier having a diameter of about 0.8 mm was obtained.

The fuel absorber with a carrier produced in this way is used as a model as shown in FIG. 2 as a fine particulate polymer 50 produced by a cross-linking reaction of the organic polymer compound and a binder attached around the fine particulate polymer 50. The thermoplastic resin powder layer 52 and the carrier 55 carrying these layers. That is, the thermoplastic resin powder layer 52 is formed on the surface of the carrier 55.
Serves as a binder to fuse the fine-grained polymers 50 to form the fuel absorber 5.

Others were the same as those in the first embodiment. This fuel absorber with a carrier is referred to as Sample No. 3.

Fourth Example As shown in the second example, a thermoplastic resin powder was added to and mixed with the fresh cream-like polymer gel fine particles collected after the reaction. Then, this product was applied to a carrier, dried and heated in the same manner as in the third embodiment. These conditions were the same as those in the second and third embodiments.

The fuel absorber thus obtained was similar to that shown in FIG. This fuel absorber is referred to as Sample 4.

Fifth Example The characteristics of the fuel absorbers of sample Nos. 1 to 4 obtained in the first to fourth examples were measured.

That is, first, regarding the durability of the fuel adsorption / desorption cycle, the fuel absorber was placed in a 100 mesh stainless steel wire mesh container and these were immersed in toluene for 2 hours. Then, a load was applied from above to the fuel absorber immediately after being taken out, and the crushing load (gf) at the time of crushing was measured.

Regarding the fuel trapping ability of the fuel absorber, first, about 0.2 g of the sample (including 0.1 g of the carrier in the case of the fuel absorber with a carrier) is placed in a wire mesh container (weight V) similar to the above and weighed. The weight at this time is W. Then, each sample was immersed in toluene as a fuel together with a wire mesh container, and the first
Each weight Y is weighed out by taking out every time shown in the table.

Then, the fuel absorption (%) at each time was calculated by the following formula.

The measurement results are shown in Table 1.

For comparison, in the first example, the reaction was performed without adding the thermoplastic resin powder as the binder, and the creamy polymer gel fine particles were collected and granulated to obtain the fuel absorber. It was This is designated as Sample No. C1.
Table 1 also shows the measurement results.

As is known from Table 1, all of the fuel absorbers (Sample Nos. 1 to 4) according to the present invention have a higher crushing load than the comparative sample No. C1. This is because each fine-grained polymer is bonded by the thermoplastic resin powder as the binder, and the strength of the fuel absorber as a whole is high.

Further, among the above, sample Nos. 3 and 4 have high strength because they have a carrier as a skeleton.

Therefore, the fuel absorber of the present invention exhibits excellent durability even in the fuel absorption / desorption cycle.

On the other hand, the comparative sample C1 which does not use the thermoplastic resin powder as the binder has a very high degree of absorption, but since the fine-grained polymer is not bound by the thermoplastic resin, the crushing load during fuel absorption is high. Quite low.
Therefore, the durability of the absorption / desorption cycle is poor.

Sixth Embodiment An example in which the fuel absorber of the present invention is used in a vehicle canister will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the canister 1 includes a main body 10 which is a container for accommodating a fuel absorber, and a fuel absorber 20 filled in an absorption chamber 2 in the main body 10.

The main body 10 has a cylindrical shape, and has a lid 11 provided on the upper end and a bottom plate 12 provided on the bottom. Further, the second inlet pipe 14 into which the tip portion 141 is inserted to the vicinity of the center of the absorption chamber 2, the first inlet pipe 13 similarly inserted, and the purging pipe 16 are fixed to the lid 11.

The first introduction pipe 13 communicates with the space above the vaporizer float chamber 81, and the second introduction pipe 14 communicates with the fuel tank 82. Further, the purge pipe 16 communicates with a purge port 85. Further, a purge air pipe 15 is opened in the bottom plate 12. Each of the above pipes has a valve 131, 142,
It has 151,161.

In the main body 10, a perforated plate is provided below the absorption chamber 2.
17 and a perforated plate 18 above. The perforated plate 17 is moved upward by a spring 101, and the perforated plate 18 is moved by a spring 102.
Is pressed downward. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes gasoline.

As described above, the canister 1 captures the evaporated fuel by the vaporizer float chamber 81 or the fuel tank.
The gasoline vapor evaporated in 82 enters the absorption chamber 2 in the canister 1 through the first or second introduction pipes 13 and 14, comes into contact with the fuel absorber 20, and is absorbed therein. During this absorption, the valves 131 and 142 of the introduction pipes 13 and 14 are open, and the valve 161 of the purging pipe 16 and the valve 151 of the purge air pipe 15 are closed.

The above absorption is caused by the fuel absorber 20 capturing gasoline and swelling.

Then, when these fuel absorbers absorb a large amount of gasoline vapor, the fuel absorbers are regenerated. After repeated use, the lid 11 is removed and replaced with a new fuel absorber.

In the above regeneration, the valves 131, 142, 151 and 161 are opened and closed,
This is performed by injecting air from the purge air pipe 15 in a manner opposite to the absorption. Then, the exhaust gas is discharged from the upper purge pipe 16 to the purge port 85. At this time, the introduced air serves to release the gasoline absorbed in the fuel absorber and discharge it as described above.

As described above, by performing the absorption and desorption cycle of absorption and regeneration, the fuel absorber can be used repeatedly and gasoline vapor as evaporative fuel can be captured with high efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a bonded state of fine particulate polymer in the fuel absorber of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a bonded state of fine particulate polymer in the fuel absorber with a carrier of the third embodiment, and FIG. The figure is an illustration of a canister in the sixth embodiment. 1 ... Canister, 2 ... Absorption chamber, 20 ... Fuel absorber, 8 ... Gasoline, 5 ... Fuel absorber, 50 ... Fine polymer, 52 ... Thermoplastic resin powder layer, 55 ... Carrier

Front page continued (72) Inventor Tadaoki Okumoto 1 Ochihata, Nagachiji, Kasuga-cho, Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Within Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Takashi Ota 1 41, Yokomichi, Nagakute, Aichi-gun, Aichi Toyota Central Research Institute Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mitsumasa Matsushita, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi Prefecture, Nagachoji Yoko 41 No. 41 No. 1 Toyota Central Research Institute Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-11944 (JP, A) JP-A-4-11942 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An organic polymer compound having a fuel trapping function is dissolved in a solvent, a thermoplastic resin powder for a binder is added to and mixed with the solution, and then in the presence of a crosslinking agent for the reaction of the organic polymer compound. After the reaction is completed, a polymer gel containing the thermoplastic resin powder is collected and then granulated, and the resulting intermediate particles are heated to a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin powders are fused to each other. A method for producing a characteristic fuel absorber. 2. A cross-linking agent for the reaction of the organic polymer compound, which is obtained by dissolving an organic polymer compound having a fuel trapping function in a solvent and then adding the solution to a separately prepared dispersant-containing solution while stirring. The reaction is carried out in the presence of, and after the completion of the reaction, the polymer gel fine particles are collected, and then the thermoplastic resin powder is added to and mixed with the polymer gel fine particles, and then the obtained intermediate particles are granulated. A method for producing a fuel absorber, comprising heating the thermoplastic resin powders to a temperature at which they are fused to each other. 3. The polymer gel containing a thermoplastic resin powder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymer gel is applied to a carrier,
After the drying, the thermoplastic resin powder is heated to a temperature at which it is fused to obtain a fuel absorber with a carrier, which is a method for producing a fuel absorber.